Means for varying the opening between the base and stapling arm of stapling machines



Nov. 15, 1955 E. H. COLE 2,723,392

MEANS FOR VARYING THE OPENING BETWEEN THE BASE AND STAPLING ARM 0F STAPLING MACHINES Filed July 23 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 m N qm INVENTOR L: 5 H- @[MEL 1 A TTORNE) NOV. 15, 1955 COLE 2,723,392

MEANS FOR VARYING THE OPENING BETWEEN THE BASE AND STAPLING ARM OF STAPLING MACHINES Filed July 25 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 15, 1955 E. H. COLE MEANS FOR VARYING THE OPENING BETWEEN THE BASE AND STAPLING ARM OF STAPLING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 23 1951 INVENTOR 6 H CO M ll Si BY W, aid r /7W4,

Unite MEANS FOR VARYING' THE OPENING BETWEEN THE BASE AND s'rAPLrNG ARM or STAPLING MACHINES This invention relates to stapling machines. The expression stapling machine is used herein to denote like machines such as sti'tchers, also various types of stapling machines are known for stapling together articles such as papers, some kinds of fabrics or films or sheets of various materials or for stapling price tickets to garments and like purposes.

The known machines, however, have each only one position of rest for the stapling head in relation to the staple clincher or anvil usually mounted on the base. The stapling head returns to its rest position under the action of springs when released.

According to one aspect of the present invention a stapling machine is provided with height control means for varying the height of the stapling head in relation to the staple clincher or anvil so as to enable the stapling States Patent-OE head of the machine. to be set at any one of two or more difi'erent pre-selected positions relative to the anvil, depending on the leg size of the staple which is being. used and/ or the thickness of the materials to be stapled, while enabling the stapling head to return automatically to the pro-selected position in readiness for the next stapling operation.

For this purpose a stapling machine may be provided with an inverted yoke attached to the base which acts as an abutment for the staple driver lever return spring and for the height control means, so that all the return springs in the machine are located above the yoke.

This arrangement enables interchangeable bases to be fitted to the machine, since the yoke and other parts can readily be disconnected from one base and secured to another.

A further feature of the invention is to provide a safety catch which locks the stapling head when the machine is not in use and prevents staples from being half-charged into the staple exitchannel, while also preventing injury a to the user while charging fresh staples into the machine. The safety catch also acts as a retainer for the staple magazine to retain, it in a housed position within the driver lever.

Another feature of the invention relates to the driver lug for transmitting the thrust from the staple driver lever to the staple blade. This is made readily replaceable when worn out and is of such a construction that it requires no screws, threads, tapped holes, or spot welding to hold it in place. This is effected by making it a press fit in a slot in the front of the staple driver lever. Another feature of the invention is to provide the machine with an anvil or staple clinching base which has two sets of clinching formations, one behind the other, one for temporary or pin-form fastening, with the legs of the staples bent outwardly, and the other for permanent fastening with the legs of the staples clinched inwardly. These are formed in the base and the stapling head is made movable longitudinally of the base to bring it into position with the alternative clinching formations. It will be appreciated that further alternative sets of clinching formations can be provided if desired.

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In one form of the present invention a stapling machine is provided with a base to which is secured an inverted U-shaped yoke on'which are pivotally mounted independently of one another (but preferably on the same pivot) a driver lever and a staple magazine, a longitudinally movable slide mounted on the driver lever contacting a surface on the base (conveniently on the yoke) to vary the relative angular position of the lever and the base. Since the angular position of the lever and the staple magazine is normally determined by a stop, the position of the magazine. and the effective height of the stapling head will be determined by the position of the slide.

The position of the slide is preferably determined by a rotatable cam, having a number of flat surfaces, mount-v ed in the driver lever and engaging a rectangular slot in the slide. If the fiat surfaces are arranged eccentrically to the cam axis, the engagement of a different face of the rotatable cam with the end of the. rectangular slot will be effective to vary the distance between the cam pivot and the surface contacted by the slide and this will determine a diiferent angular position between the driver lever and the base and thus it will also determine a different height for the stapling head relatively to the base.

In order that the invention may be more, clearly understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein one form of stapling machine made in accordance with the invention is shown.

in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of one form of stat pling machine.

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view.

Figure 3 is a fragment showing the slide member; and its control cam.

Figure 4 is a perspective showing the base, yoke and staple core mechanism with the driver lever removed.

Figure 5 is an end view of the stapling head partly in section.

Figure 6 is a fragment showing the catch for the stapling head.

Figure 7 is a fragment showing the driver lug construction. p

The stapling machine comprises basically two parts, a base unit and a stapling head unit.

The base, unit comprises a base plate 1, a hinge membet 2 and n inver ed U sh pe y ke. 3.

The ba e plate 1 is, longi u i a y lo ed. t 4 nd f rmed with a recess in which is positioned a flat strip 5 of re-. l nt strip me l. connec ed o he h ng m m er by tuds 6 pas ing through t l 4 The ng memb r 2 is gitudinally m va le between two positions which re determin by the eng g ment of the o n headed r vet 7 with the two alternative. ap r u 3 in h f rw rd nd o h str p 5- f rward end of the bas Plate .1. s r du ed in thick= n ss nd is stampe to. p oduc an in eg al nvil 9 ha ng pairs of depressions 1t) therein adapted to bend the legs of a staple inwardly or outwardly. By moving'the hinge member 2 between its two alternative positions, the Sta.- pling head unit can be brought into register with the de: sired p f sre i ns t9 (the orward position o he s apli g he d ing ho n n. cha n l ne in F gure ;Althoughit is well known to achieve the same effect by means of a rotatable anvil formed with eccentrically locat p s s, he pr en con tr ion is con idere superior, since by having the anvil integral With the base plate, the danger that papers may catch under the base and get folded over is obviated, t

The yoke member 3,'to which the stapling head unit. is actually attached, is pivoted to the hinge member {by he pivo 11, Th yoke member is p ov ed with an outwardly directed. fl ng 1.2 (F gu adapted t be p: ported on the base plate 1. The yoke member 3 is pref;

J erably formed with means to retain it in the position shown in Figure 2 against upward movement relative to the hinge member 2 except under relatively great force.

The yoke member 3 acts as a mounting for a staple driver lever 14 and a staple magazine assembly 15, consisting of a staple core and associated parts, which together with the lever 14 support and complete a stapling head unit of basically conventional design. The lever 14 and staple magazine 15 are mounted in a common pivot 16.

The lever 14 is normally urged towards a raised position by the leaf spring 17 secured within the lever by studs which are tapped into the bottom of the operating knob 19, thus securing both these parts to the lever 14.

The leaf spring 17 bears against a bridge piece 18 on the yoke 3 and the normal effect of the spring 17 would be to rotate the lever to a position in which the weight of the lever and associated parts balances against the stress in the spring.

The angularity of the lever 14 relative to the yoke is however controlled by an adjustable member which acts as a stop to prevent the spring 17 fully raising the lever.

This adjustable stop member is comprised by a slide member 20 which has an end formation adapted to contact a lower bridge piece 21 on the yoke 3.

The slide member 20 has a rectangular aperture therein which engages with an operating member 22. It will readily be appreciated that the effect of the spring 17 will be to press thhe bottom edge of the aperture in the slide member against the operating member 22 and that the effective height of the sheath lever from the base is governed by the distance between the axis of the member 22 and the bridge piece 21.

This distance is varied by providing cam formations on the member 22 and in the present instance these take the form of four fiat faces 23 eccentrically formed on the shank of the member 22 (see Figure 3). The member 22 is rotatably mounted in an aperture in the lever 14 and is provided with an operating portion 24, which also serves as an indicator to index with markings on the outside of the sheath lever 14 to indicate High, Medium and Low positions of the lever. It will be observed that two of the faces 23 have the same amount of eccentricity. This is done so that there is a Medium position between High and Low irrespective of the direction in which the member 22 is turned.

The slide member 20 is relatively rigid and is pressed out of fairly heavy gauge sheet metal. It is rounded at its bottom end to provide a yoke contacting portion 25 adapted to bear against the bridge piece 21. At its top end it is formed with a tongue 26. The slide member 20 is pressed against the inside of the lever 14 by means of a leaf spring 27 held in position by a stud tapped into a hole in the bottom end of the member 22. This arrangement allows the slide member 20 to be moved longitudinally of the inside of the lever 14. To move the slide member 20, it is desirable to depress the lever 14 so as to take the slide member out of contact with the yoke bridge 21. The slide member then moves very easily.

The staple magazine, indicated generally at 15, is of more or less standard construction and comprises inner and outer U-shaped members 30 and 31, which are spaced apart slightly to form a narrow chamber to receive staples, along which staples are urged towards the front end by means of a slider 32, urged forwardly by a long tension spring 33.

The member 30 is provided with upwardly extending cheeks 34 which serve as bearings for various associated parts. The front end of the staple chamber is normally closed by a pivoted member 35, which is adapted to be swung upwardly as shown in Figure 6. The bottom end of the member 35 is formed with recesses 36 to engage with latch formations 37 carried by the inner core member 31. The upper end of the member 35 is supported on a pivot 38 carried by a bowed leaf spring 39 and guided in slots 40 in the cheeks 34. This arrangement permits the member 35 to have a certain amount of movement to enable it to be engaged and disengaged from the latch formations 37.

The checks 34 also serve as a mounting for a brake of known construction to prevent the staples being ejected when the end member 35 is swung out of the way. This comprises a pivoted lever 42 carrying a small toothed wheel 43, which is normally held clear of the staples by the pressure of the member 35. When this is released the spring 44 swings the lever 42 down to bring the toothed wheel 43 into contact with the staples and this is sufficient to check the outward movement of the staples, although fresh staples can be inserted from the front end of the chamber.

The lever 14 and staple magazine assembly 15 are normally urged apart by a leaf spring 46, the position of the staple magazine being determined by a hook member 47 which engages with the end of the pin 48, which also anchors the end of the spring 39 (Figure 6). The bottom end of the hook member 47 normally serves only to retain the staple magazine within the lever against downward movement, but is also provided with a recess adapted to engage the pin 48 to restrain the staple magazine assembly against movement in either direction. The hook member is movable between its two positions by means of a knob 49 projecting through an arcuate slot 50 in the lever 14. The pin 48 is then disengaged from the recess and the lever 14 is free to move towards the staple magazine 15, while in the position shown in Figure 1 it is locked against such movement.

The provision of this means of locking the magazine assembly makes the operation of reloading the machine with staples far easier, since the locking of the magazine assembly 15 against upward movement towards the lever 14 makes it far easier to unlatch the member 35. At the same time it obviates the possibility of actuating the mechanism when opening the member 35 to remove a staple which may have become jammed in the guideway.

The machine is completed by a blade 52 of conventional shape which is adapted to be moved downwardly from the position shown in Figure 1, in the staple guideway left between the front end of the member 31 and the end member 35. This guideway must in operation be in register with one of the pairs of depressions 10. The guideway in conjunction with the blade 52 forms the staple head proper. The blade 52 is apertured near its top end and is suspended loosely on the driver lug 53 and retained thereon by means of the end portion 54 of the spring 46, so that it can move freely along the driver lug during movement of the lever 14 relative to the core assembly.

The driver lug 53 is turned out of and milled from case hardening steel rod, having a lug proper for engaging the blade 52. By the novel method of fixing the lug used in the present construction it is possible to locate the lug in the desired position without the use of any bolts particularly used for this purpose. The head end of the lug is grooved, and this groove is of such dimension as to leave a portion which is a tight press fit in a groove 55 formed in the front of the lever 14, which is also formed with a cut away portion at the top to leave room for the operative portion of the lug 54 to pass.

In the position shown in Fig. 1 the wheel 43 is held out of engagement with the staples by reason of the engagement of the part 42a against the rear surface of the blade 52, which is in turn pressed against the member 35 by the pressure of the spring 42b. When the member 35 is moved to the position shown in broken lines, the force of the spring 42b is sufiicient to force the loosely mounted blade 52 to move outwardly and thus permit the wheel 42 to descend to engage the staples.

In the foregoing the position of the stapling head has been considered as being adjustable relative to the base.

The base is however preferably only attached to the stapling head through a yoke member, which is pivoted to the base, and the position of the stapling head is strictly adjustable. relative to the yoke member, the yoke member having one position in which it is releasably engaged angularly with the base.

I. claim:

1. A stapling machine comprising, a yoke member, a base member, means for mounting the yoke member on the base member, a driver lever pivotally mounted on the yoke member, a staple magazine assembly pivotally mounted on the yoke member co-axially with the driver lever, said driver lever and said staple magazine assembly together forming a stapling head unit and being normally maintained at a predetermined angle relative to each other, said yoke having a bridge piece. to act as a stop surface, a slide member mounted on the driver lever to contact said stop surface and determine the normal angular position between the lever and the yoke member, said slide member having a rectangular slot therein, a rotatable cam member mounted in said lever having a plurality of eccentrically disposed fiat faces adapted to engage against one end of said slot to determine alternative positions of the free end of the magazine assembly relative to the yoke member.

2. A stapling machine comprising, a yoke member, a base member, means for mounting the yoke member on the base member, a driver lever pivotally mounted on the yoke member, a staple magazine assembly pivotally mounted on the yoke member co-axially with the driver lever, said driver lever and said staple magazine assembly together forming a stapling head unit and being normally maintained at a predetermined angle relative to each other, said yoke having a bridge piece to act as a stop surface, a slide member mounted on the driver lever to contact said stop surface and determine the normal angular position between the lever and the yoke member, said slide member having a rectangular slot therein, a rotatable cam member mounted in said lever having a plurality of eccentrically disposed flat faces adapted to engage against one end of said slot to determine alternative positions of the free end of the staple magazine assembly relative to the yoke member, said yoke having a second bridge piece forwardly and above said first bridge piece, a spring attached to said lever and bearing against said second bridge piece to urge the driver lever angularly away from the yoke member thus bringing the slide member into contact With said first bridge piece.

3. A stapling machine comprising, a yoke member, a base member, means to mount the yoke member on the base member, a driver lever pivotally mounted on the yoke member, a staple magazine assembly pivotally mounted on the yoke member co-axially with the driver lever, said driver lever and said staple magazine assembly together forming a stapling head unit, spring means between said staple magazine assembly and said driver lever urging them angularly apart, retaining means limiting their relative angularity, said yoke having a bridge piece to act as a stop surface, a slide member mounted on the driver lever to contact said stop surface and determine the normal angular position between the lever and the yoke member, said slide member having a rectangular slot therein, a rotatable cam member mounted in said lever having a plurality of eccentrically disposed flat faces adapted to engage against one end of said slot to determine alternative positions of the free end of the staple magazine assembly relative to the yoke memher.

4. A stapling machine comprising, a yoke member, a base member, means for mounting the yoke member on the base member, a driver lever pivotally mounted on the yoke member, a staple magazine assembly pivotally mounted on the yoke member co-axially with the driver lever, said driver lever and said stable magazine assembly together forming a stapling head unit, a spring attached to said driver lever bearing against said staple magazine assembly to urge them angularly apart, aretaining member attachedto said lever, a fixed formation on said staple magazine assembly adapted to be engaged by said retaining member to limit outward angular movement of said lever and magazine, said yoke having a bridge piece to act as a stop surface, a slide member mounted on the driver lever to contact said stop surface and determine the normal angular position between the lever and the yoke member, said slide member having a rectangular slot therein, a rotatable cam member mounted in said lever having a plurality of eccentrically disposed fiat faces adapted to engage against one end of said slot to determine alternative positions of the free end of the staple core assembly relative to the yoke member.

5. In a stapling machine, the combination of a yoke member, adapted to be attached to a base, a staple driver lever pivotally mounted on the yoke member, a staple magazine assembly pivotally mounted on the yoke mem-- ber co-aXially with the driver lever, a first bridge surface on the yoke member, a spring positioned between the driver lever and said first bridge surface to urge said driver lever and said yoke member angularly apart, a second bridge surface on said yoke member on the opposite side of the driver lever pivot point to said first bridge surface, a stop on said driver lever adapted to contact said second bridge surface and limit the angle between said yoke member and said driver lever, and a second spring arranged between said driver lever and said magazine assembly to maintain them at a predetermined normal angular position relative to each other and to be deflected when said magazine meets resistance during depression of said lever against the resistance of said first spring.

6. A stapling machine comprising a base, a yoke member, means to attach the yoke to the base, a staple driver lever pivotally mounted on the yoke member, a staple magazine assembly mounted on the yoke member coaxially with and below the driver lever, means for limiting the relative angularity of said driver lever and said staple magazine assembly, a first abutment surface on the yoke member, a spring positioned between the driver lever and said first abutment surface to urge said driver lever and said yoke member angularly apart, a second abutment surface on the yoke member on the opposite side of the driver lever pivot point to said first abutment surface, a stop on said driver lever adapted to contact said second abutment surface and limit the angle between said driver lever and said yoke member, said magazine assembly being free to move angularly towards said driver lever when said magazine assembly meets resistance during depression of said driver lever against the resistance of said spring.

7. A stapling machine including a base and a staple driver lever, means for pivotally mounting said lever on the base and a staple magazine assembly pivotally mounted near one end coaxially with said driver lever and normally maintained at a predetermined angle thereto, a stop member mounted on the base, a slide member mounted on the driver lever to contact the stop member to determine the normal angular position between the staple driver lever and the base, and means for setting said slide in a plurality of alternative positions to vary the angle between the base and the driver lever to determine alternative positions of the free end of the staple magazine assembly relative to the base.

8. A stapling machine comprising a base, a staple driver lever, means for pivotally mounting said lever on the base, a staple magazine assembly pivotally mounted at one end coaxially with said driver lever, said driver lever and said staple magazine assembly being normally maintained at a predetermined angle relative to each other, a slide member mounted on the staple driver lever to contact a stop mounted on said base to determine the normal angular position between the lever and the base,

a rotatable cam member mounted on said driver lever contacting the stop on said slide member, said rotatable member being mounted for longitudinal movement thereof to determine alternative positions of the free end of the staple magazine assembly relative to the base.

9. A stapling machine comprising a base, a staple driver lever, means for pivotally mounting the driver lever on the base, a staple magazine assembly pivotally mounted at one end coaxially with said driver lever, said driver lever and said staple magazine assembly being normally maintained at a predetermined angle relative to each other, a slide member mounted on the driver lever to contact a stop mounted on said base to determine the normal angular position between the lever and the base, said slide member having a rectangular slot therein, a rotatable cam member mounted in said lever having a plurality of eccentrically disposed fiat faces adapted to engage against one end of said slot to determine alternative positions of the free end of the staple magazine assembly relative to the base.

10, A stapling machine comprising a base, a yoke member, means to attach the yoke to the base, a staple driver lever pivotally mounted on the yoke member, a staple magazine assembly pivotally mounted on the yoke member coaxially with the driver lever, a first bridge surface on the yoke member spring positioned between the driver lever and said first bridge surface to urge said driver lever and said yoke member angularly apart, a second bridge surface on said yoke member on the opposite side of the driver lever pivot point to said first bridge surface, a stop on said driver lever adapted to contact said second bridge surface and limit the angle between said yoke member and said driver lever, and a second spring arranged between said driver lever and said magazine assembly to maintain them at a predetermined normal angular position and to be deflected when said magazine meets resistance on depression of said lever against the resistance of said first spring.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 288,191 Young Nov. 6, 1883 389,922 Delagneau Sept. 25, 1888 1,890,694 Polzer Dec. 13, 1932 2,087,779 Pankonin July 20, 1937 2,198,882 Cavanagh Feb. 22, 1938 2,112,941 Weber Apr. 5, 1938 2,264,322 Maynard Dec. 2, 1941 2,271,926 Pankonin Feb. 3, 1942 2,277,347 Pankonin Mar. 24, 1942 2,343,203 Pankonin Feb. 29, 1944 2,378,725 Paul June 19, 1945 2,438,712 Linstrom Mar. 30, 1948 2,445,179 Maynard July 13, 1948 2,482,156 Crosby Sept. 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 722,402 Germany July 9, 1942 

